Fertility rate, total in China
China: Fertility rate, total was 1.01 births per woman in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fertility rate, total in China, 1960–2024
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
China recorded 1.01 births per woman for fertility rate, total in 2024.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate, total in China peaked at 7.51 births per woman in 1963 and was at its lowest, 0.999 births per woman, in 2023.
China ranks 210th of 217 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertility rate, total in China, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.45 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 3.86 births per woman | -13.2% |
| 1962 | 6.08 births per woman | +57.5% |
| 1963 | 7.51 births per woman | +23.5% |
| 1964 | 6.67 births per woman | -11.2% |
| 1965 | 6.61 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 6.31 births per woman | -4.5% |
| 1967 | 5.81 births per woman | -7.9% |
| 1968 | 6.51 births per woman | +12.1% |
| 1969 | 6.17 births per woman | -5.1% |
| 1970 | 6.08 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 5.52 births per woman | -9.2% |
| 1972 | 5.11 births per woman | -7.4% |
| 1973 | 4.73 births per woman | -7.6% |
| 1974 | 4.17 births per woman | -11.8% |
| 1975 | 3.57 births per woman | -14.4% |
| 1976 | 3.23 births per woman | -9.4% |
| 1977 | 2.84 births per woman | -12.1% |
| 1978 | 2.72 births per woman | -4.5% |
| 1979 | 2.75 births per woman | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 2.74 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 2.79 births per woman | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 2.97 births per woman | +6.4% |
| 1983 | 2.56 births per woman | -13.9% |
| 1984 | 2.61 births per woman | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 2.63 births per woman | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 2.72 births per woman | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 2.76 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 2.54 births per woman | -8.0% |
| 1989 | 2.52 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 2.51 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 1.93 births per woman | -23.1% |
| 1992 | 1.78 births per woman | -8.2% |
| 1993 | 1.69 births per woman | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 1.63 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 1.59 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 1.55 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 1.53 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 1.52 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 1.53 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 1.63 births per woman | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 1.56 births per woman | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 1.57 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 1.57 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 1.6 births per woman | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 1.62 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 1.64 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 1.67 births per woman | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 1.7 births per woman | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 1.71 births per woman | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 1.69 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 1.67 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 1.8 births per woman | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 1.71 births per woman | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 1.77 births per woman | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 1.67 births per woman | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 1.77 births per woman | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 1.79 births per woman | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 1.54 births per woman | -14.3% |
| 2019 | 1.5 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 1.24 births per woman | -17.4% |
| 2021 | 1.12 births per woman | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 1.03 births per woman | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 0.999 births per woman | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 1.01 births per woman | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6 births per woman | 3.86 births per woman | 7.51 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.07 births per woman | 2.72 births per woman | 6.08 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.68 births per woman | 2.52 births per woman | 2.97 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.73 births per woman | 1.52 births per woman | 2.51 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.63 births per woman | 1.56 births per woman | 1.71 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.69 births per woman | 1.5 births per woman | 1.8 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.08 births per woman | 0.999 births per woman | 1.24 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 2,029 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,642 (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.072 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -4.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0821 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate, total in China?
- Fertility rate, total in China was 1.01 births per woman in 2024, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest fertility rate, total recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 7.51 births per woman in 1963.
- What is the lowest fertility rate, total recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.999 births per woman in 2023.
- How does China rank for fertility rate, total?
- China ranks 210th out of 217 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate, total rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Fertility rate, total (births per woman). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.